Imagine a world of understanding and peace. Imagine a world of communication, unity, common projects and creative coexistence. The basis of this vision is all here. People have always envisaged a common future for humanity, stemming from our common past and extending into the horizon of the globe. We've all been part of it.

  "Symbolizing the idea of world heritage" (UNESCO)
  "The Unity of a Unique Monument" (UNESCO)
  April 18: World Heritage Day
  Reunite the symbol of World Heritage
  See the symbol of World Heritage
  List of World Heritage sites in Greece
  Today: Pericles' vision through World Heritage
  The Acropolis: Unparalleled impact and conceptual
      range

World Heritage is precisely the essence of the vision's foundations. Focusing on cultural and natural sites and monuments, World Heritage is an institution put in place to safeguard the heritage of humanity for our future generations. The World Heritage Center of UNESCO, the mission of which is explained on the official UNESCO World Heritage Center website, is to actively protect and promote World Heritage for humanity, bridging common heritage with a powerful realisation of our shared oneness. Extending beyond physical monuments and sites, UNESCO's activity is now also reaching out to protect the Intangible Heritage, taking the concept and focus of World Heritage even further.

The Acropolis of Athens, a unique monument of one of the most significant cultural milestones of human civilisation, was recognised in 1987 as a World Heritage site. In recognition of its gravity and symbolic presence in human history, UNESCO also proceeded to state that the Acropolis can be seen as the symbol of World Heritage itself. Quoting UNESCO, "Illustrating the civilizations, myths and religions that flourished in Greece over a period of more than 1,000 years, the Acropolis, the site of four of the greatest masterpieces of classical Greek art - the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erectheum and the Temple of Athena Nike - can be seen as symbolizing the idea of world heritage."

It is precisely the beauty, depth and symbolism of the Athenian Acropolis that make its conservation and restoration imperative. In a gesture of respect to World Heritage, now is the time for all museums, institutions and educational establishments to work together in a global effort to bring people and nations closer together.

Knowing the achievements of your ancestors, no matter how far, what race or ethnic origin, and seeing in awe the wonders of nature as a vivid smile of our inherent connection with our environment, what would you choose to do for World Heritage? Humanity is inspired; we are making creative steps forward! World Heritage is you growing.